Former Dover fire chief fills state homeland security post

Saturday

Jan 5, 2013 at 3:15 AMJan 5, 2013 at 1:22 PM

CONCORD — Whether he's dealing with floods, hurricanes or earthquakes, former Dover Fire Chief Perry Plummer will be keeping tabs on emergency responders around the state if disasters strike in the coming year.

By Jim Haddadinjhaddadin@fosters.com

CONCORD — Whether he's dealing with floods, hurricanes or earthquakes, former Dover Fire Chief Perry Plummer will be keeping tabs on emergency responders around the state if disasters strike in the coming year.

Plummer has been tapped as the acting director of the state's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Gov. Maggie Hassan and Department of Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes jointly announced Plummer's selection last month. He replaces outgoing Director Christopher Pope, who stepped down on Thursday.

Hassan pointed to Plummer's background in municipal firefighting as an asset in his new role.

“Maintaining the safety of New Hampshire's communities and citizens is the most important job of state government,” she said in a prepared statement. “Chief Plummer's extensive background in public safety at both state and local levels will help ensure we are prepared for and able to respond quickly and effectively to any emergency that requires the resources of the state government.”

Plummer will oversee both the New Hampshire Bureau of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Emergency Management, according to an announcement from the governor's office. In that role, he will coordinate the state's response to major disasters, and also plan for the potential of criminal or terrorist attacks. Plummer will also be liaison to the federal Department of Homeland Security.

A longtime Dover firefighter, Plummer was most recently serving as director of the Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services, a position he took in May 2011. His duties included overseeing the Fire Academy in Concord, as well as fire training curriculum and certification.

Plummer will continue to be the director of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services while he serves as chief of the state's homeland security office.

He has also been a member of the New Hampshire Department of Safety's team assisting Pope and outgoing Gov. John Lynch during past emergencies.

“Since joining our management team, Director Plummer has quickly gained the confidence of my staff and me, and the fire and emergency medical service,” Barthelmes said in a prepared statement. “His extensive experience at the helm during emergency situations in his hometown of Dover plus his ability to collaborate with a wide range of individuals and agencies, has prepared him very well to assume these duties. He has my full confidence.”

Plummer joined the Dover department as a firefighter in 1986 and was a lieutenant, captain and assistant chief before becoming chief in 2002.

Plummer said he's excited for the new challenge of directing the state's emergency response efforts.

“With director Pope leaving, that's huge shoes to fill,” he said. “He did a tremendous job while he was there.”

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